Florida Fauna & Flora – Ruby-throated Hummingbird The most common hummingbird found in Florida is the ruby-throated hummingbird. You may also see black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. The ruby-throated hummingbird is also eastern North America’s only breeding hummingbird. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are tiny. They measure only […]
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Blue crabs are found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. This crab is an omnivore – eating both plants and animals. Its typical diet is small fish, plants, annelids and almost anything else it can ingest. Crabs grow by shedding their shells or molting. Blue crabs molt about 25 times […]
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The largemouth bass is the official state freshwater fish. This olive-green to greenish-gray bass is also the most popular game fish in North America. The largemouth bass is easily differentiated from other basses because its upper jaw extends beyond the rear edge of its eye. Its back fins are separated by a deep dip – […]
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Florida Fauna & Flora – Florida Manatee The Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is a slow-moving aquatic animal with an elongated round body that tapers to a flat paddle-shaped tail. Its two forelimbs, each with three or four nails, are called flippers. The manatee’s head and face are wrinkled […]
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The Osceola or Florida wild turkey is one of the most popular game animals in the world. In 1890, ornithologist W.E.D.Scott named this species of wild turkey after Seminole leader Chief Osceola. Osceola wild turkeys are found only on the Florida peninsula and are much smaller than farm-raised Thanksgiving birds. Adult males are known […]
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The American white ibis is often seen stalking Florida neighborhoods for a snack. With its brilliant white feathers, bright red-orange down-curved bill and long legs, this bird is easy to spot. This medium-sized bird is native to wetlands and is commonly seen wading through shallow water hunting for food. Living mostly on crayfish, the white […]
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Opossums are the only marsupials native to North America. Female marsupials give birth to underdeveloped young that then reside in an external abdomen pouch. In this pouch, up to to 14 young are suckled for about two months after birth. The young opossums begin life smaller than honeybees. Upon leaving the pouch they cling to […]
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FLORIDA FAUNA & FLORA – OLEANDER With its beautiful pink, red or white flowers growing at the end of its branches, oleander is a popular choice for planting. Oleanders can grow six to 20 feet tall. This plant flourishes in warm regions, withstanding extreme heat, poor soil, water shortages, salt spray and lack of […]
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Thoroughbred horses are synonymous with Ocala/Marion County area, as it is coined the “Horse Capital of the World™.” These hot-blooded, highly intelligent horses are known for their agility and lightning-fast runs – reaching speeds up to 40 mph. Thoroughbreds are large, muscular, powerful horses that are innately elegant and graceful. Horses are measured in […]
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COTTONTAIL RABBIT Cottontail rabbits are small, grayish-brown rabbits with a white puffy tail. These rabbits make their homes just about anywhere in Florida with the exception of dense forests and swampy areas. Cottontails live in small brush that is well camouflaged from predators. Female cottontails typically birth four to seven baby rabbits (aka […]
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